Posted Wed Dec 11 21:49:45 EAT 2013

Mututho promises tougher alcohol laws

By NATION CORRESPONDENT

In Summary

He was speaking during the launch of a tripartite awareness campaign to be conducted by Nacada, bar owners and alcohol producers dubbed Responsible Alcohol Drinks Companies Association.

The former MP also took a swipe at police for sleeping on the job and urged them to re-introduce the Alcoblow breathalyser this festive season and carry out impromptu searches on vehicles for alcohol.

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Revellers, bars and alcoholic beverage producers must brace for stricter enforcement of control laws this festive season.

National Authority for the Campaign against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (Nacada) chairman John Mututho Wednesday said: “Police went into a slumber and Kenyans went on a party and spoilt it for themselves, so do not blame Mututho.”

He said Nacada was only prompting police to effect a law that has been in place since 1970 and it should not be called “Mututho law”.

Mr Mututho said he would not relent until alcohol abuse in Kenya is over, pointing out that Kenyans consumed up to 75 per cent of all the alcohol in East Africa.

“Whenever you want to host a party, you notify police or the chief to obtain a permit at Sh500 to Sh1,000. And this is for your own safety,” he said.

He said the licence expires at 11pm. “If you want to party past 11pm the permit does not protect you and you will have to contact the law enforcers for special consideration,” he said.

The former MP also took a swipe at police for sleeping on the job and urged them to re-introduce the Alcoblow breathalyser this festive season and carry out impromptu searches on vehicles for alcohol.